A cyclist who was hit by a man who stole a Vancouver Police (VPD) vehicle is suing the department. A notice of civil claim filed April 27 names the plaintiff, Christopher Thomas Taylor, and alleges the crash was caused or contributed to by the negligence of the defendants: the VPD and officer John Doe. On Oct. 6, 2024, Taylor was riding his bike near Templeton Park in East Vancouver when a man driving a VPD SUV struck him. The incident was captured on video and shows the driver, Dustin Walter Tallio, doing donuts in the field. According to the VPD, Tallio jumped into the vehicle while police were responding to a woman in distress near East Hastings Street. He was charged with theft of a motor vehicle, dangerous driving causing bodily harm, failing to remain at the scene of an accident, and failing to stop for police. ‘Everything’s different’ According to the B.C. Prosecution Service, Tallio was sentenced to three and a half years in jail on Feb. 23. As per the civil claim, Taylor “continues to experience significant pain, functional limitations, and psychological trauma.” Since the incident, he has been unable to work as an electrician due to his injuries which included fracturing three vertebrae and experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder. “Everything’s different,” he said. “I’m no longer able to sort of pursue the life that was in front of me.” Taylor adds he’s seeking accountability from the department. “My pursuit of anything is just to protect myself and my future,” he said. “If it wasn’t for the help that I had within my own family, I would be probably homeless.” No protocol in place The civil claim alleges the negligence consisted of the VPD leaving the vehicle unlocked, leaving the keys in the ignition and failing to properly secure the vehicle. When the incident initially occurred, CTV News asked the VPD about whether police have protocols when leaving their vehicles. At the time, former spokesperson Sgt. Steve Addison said: “Our expectation is that when our officers stop their vehicles and get out of their cars to help somebody, that somebody’s not going to get in the car and steal it.” On Tuesday, Const. Darren Wong, a media relations officer with the VPD, clarified, “there is no stated protocol in place for when officers enter or leave their vehicles.” Wong added they had no comment on the lawsuit to provide at this time. The plaintiff is seeking damages including past and future medical or rehabilitation expenses, wage loss and other out-of-pocket expenses, as well as damages for past and future loss of earning capacity. The civil claim adds, the VPD “owed a duty of care to the public (including the plaintiff) to ensure that its police vehicles were properly secured and not left in a condition that created a foreseeable risk of theft and subsequent dangerous operation by unauthorized persons.”
